The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-20

My next visit was to the camps near New
Albany, Union county, on the Northern
Division of the railroad. All bat Il Of
these convicts were sent to the Southern
Division. Except bad clothing, thess
were doing we'll but little sickness, and 10
complaints made
Ny next visit was TO the walls. where
owing to the number sent in from Melon
AIDS and Fisher & Yerger's camp sick, the
Hospital was crowded, not sufficient bed.
ding, etc. DIR. Johnston and the Board Of
Control having already called the alteh-
ton of the lessees 10 it, provision was at
once made to remedy it. | wish 10 call
the attention OF the Board OF Control to the
fact that several have died here recently
from chronic diseases, mostly c0nsumP
ton and others, in my opinion, are last
approaching the last stages OF this awful
disease. Whether it ia best to let these
criminals die here, or implore Executive
clemency, is not my province to say, bat !
am for clemency.
My next visit was to the Southern d.
vision of the Gulf and Ship Island Rail
road, in Harrison county. where all the
conviets are now at work, except II on the
WI ICtNl51oiis near new iANauNt Au-
l26 in the walls. There are Sol cOnvicis oa
this division, making the total number Of
convicts on the LIST July, 1887, 75S. These
convicts are distributed as follows: South
Camp, No. o, one mile from coast; Camp
No. d, six miles, and camp No. 4, eighteen
miles from he coast. On this division
found that the rules and regulations had
not been fully Complied With. First
TRUSTEES were doing considerable part Of
the guard duty. The managers give as al
excuse Tor this that they could not get
guards at the start that would stay. Be-
tore ! left they had gotten guards, and
promised TO observe the rules in the future
Second-Many of the convIcts we're badiy
clothed. The excuse for this was that ths
sub-lessees were 10 return their COnTcts
with good clothes. This they did no. do
hence they were unprepared to clJths
them ; but at once ordered clothing made.
and tour hundred new suits have ALREADY
been received and more making. Tbls
amount will properly clothe them, They
assured me positively that the rules re-
curing the convicts to wash or battle
themselves at least once a week, had been
fully complied with, except those the doc
tor directed otherwise. All the ministers
in the vicinity had been invited TO hold
religious services at the camps on each
Sunday, and several have promised 70 DO
SO So | think each camp will in the
future, have some one 10 presoh for them
every Sunday. Considerable sickness pre-
vailed here during the month Of June,
caused by measles. am glad to say taa,
the camps are now clear Of them. From
the first to the tenth Of July, considerable
sickness prevailed at camp No. >, mostly
bowel complaint. This the doctor be
lleved, was caused by the water used. ]!
requested the removal Of the camp, and
preparations were at once made, and II VIII
soon be moved north OF Turkey Creek
where good water, hope, will soon restore
| them to good health At the other I've
camps but little sickness now prevails. /
VIII here state that a good physician Is
employed at each camp, with instructions
to purchase anything that can be had 'o'
the comfort or benefit Of the sick. AT ny
request, mattresses were procured for eaoI
hospital, and a separate department hhei
up Tor the sick. Col, Hardy, president o.
the Company, and Capt. Hoskins, genera
manager, assured me that any demand ."
them made by the Board of Control o. 81
perintendent should be promptly eomPls'
with, If In in their power to DO so,
| j am satisfied the oonyicts at mes
camps are well fed, and nov have goo.
clothing, heard no complaint by any =
the citizens of their inhuman treai al' I.
and hope the rules and regulations Sii y
| strictly complied with in the future >.
On the 18th and 18th inst, | again ~
| tied the camp near New Albany, on :.
Northern Division. Seventy-0ne u ~.
| victs are at this camp. found notnl1st
complain of except utilizing trIstis'
guards. This / told them they must ~
and got promise that i! should De uo.s
They also need clothing, bat this L r.
pairing, and ! think they will soon III N
plenty, No sickness among them, 81"
seem to be cheerful.
All the convicts that are able. are 81
at work on the Gulf and Ship lsi1I-
Railroad, and the work is progressing -
isfactorilY to the Company. The cars s
row running to New Albany on the Nol~
ern Division, and the grading ABOUT e. t..
pieted TO Pontotoc, which place they - III
to reach soon. On the Southern pINi
about eighteen miles is graded. :, irO IN.
now arriving and track laying VIII 'O
menoe this week.
In conclusion, wish to state that n'
faithfully discharged the duties OF VI I've
Zee to the best of my ability. II he,
made mistakes (which is Possioie iSs
were not Intentional. l have, win rus
exceptions, visited the convict 80
every month. In doing SO have ll1 "a sgs
over four thousand miles by railroaut h
hundred by land, and two hlnoIrss
water. / have not failed to have discn s.s1us
any person connected with the ovels;sd
or controlling convicts, when | oe' ;ahu.
they were treating them cruelty OF
IcoxT1suxp ON THIRD PAok-l